ALL the action from the first round of the Petrofrac Training Cup including Hearts cruising past Annan and Falkirk's seven goal demolition of East Stirling.

Hearts 3 Annan 1

HEARTS head coach Robbie Neilson’s competitive debut was marred by a nasty knee injury to Callum Paterson who faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

His side were cruising 3-0 against plucky Annan when the 19-year-old caught his studs in the turf in an innocuous challenge.

A scan tomorrow will reveal the extent of the damage but Neilson reckons the best-case scenario is that the versatile teenager – who has just signed a new contract keeping him at Tynecastle until 2017 – will be out for at least six to eight weeks.

He said: “His knee is in a brace just now and it will be scanned. We just need to hope it is his medial which is a six-to-eight-week job. That’s the most positive it can be.

“He is a big player for us and has just signed a new deal so it’s disappointing.”

The home side went ahead after eight minutes when winger Billy King neatly jinked between two defenders, cutting on to his stronger right foot before unleashing a ferocious shot which defender Iain Chisholm could only help into the roof of the net.

And they doubled their lead 10 minutes later when a long ball was flicked on into the path of Swedish striker Osman Sow and, with the Annan defence posted missing, he easily slotted past Alex Mitchell.

Hearts went three in front when Paterson – who would be stretchered off by half-time – rose unchallenged to head home a King corner.

On the stroke of full-time, Annan sub Scott Davidson cut in from the right on to his left foot and curled a delightful shot into the far corner of the net.

Annan boss Jim Chapman said: ”If you defend like that, you’ll get punished. You can’t stand off good players.

“But we kept grinding away and scored what I thought was the best goal of the game.”

QoS 3 Livingston 4

John McGlynn hailed his side’s fighting spirit after sub David Robertson’s extra-time strike clinched a superb comeback victory for Livi.

Andy Dowie and Iain Russell had put Queens two up but Craig Sives and Danny Mullen drew McGlynn’s side level in normal time.

Myles Hippolyte looked to have sealed it for Livi in 98 minutes before Michael Paton equalised.

But Robertson’s 114th-minute winner sealed a thriller and sent Livi through.

Gaffer McGlynn said: “I’m delighted with how we responded after going two down.

“It was important to get a goal back quickly after their second and it gave us a big lift.

“We looked strong after that and credit to the boys for going on to win.”

Queens took the lead midway through the half when Ian McShane’s corner was met by Dowie, who powered a header into the top corner.

David Robertson scores the winning goal for Livingstone in extra time.

And they doubled their lead just in 56 minutes when Paton danced into the box before squaring for Russell to tap in.

Livi replied instantly as Michael McKenna knocked down Danny Mullen’s cross into the box for Sives to smash into the net.

And they were level in 64 minutes when Mullen met Burton O’Brien’s pass and knocked it past keeper Zander Clark.

Livingston should have completed a remarkable comeback 15 minutes from time but Hippolyte put his header over from just a few yards.

Queens went close to a winner when Dowie struck the bar from a corner.

Eight minutes into extra-time Hippolyte atoned for his earlier miss by firing Livi into the lead with a cool finish from McKenna’s defence-splitting pass.

Queens weren’t done though and in 106 minutes Daniel Carmichael laid the ball off to Paton who fired home from inside the box.

But the drama wasn’t over as Robertson – who had only been on the pitch for 10 minutes – met O’Brien’s cross with a neat volley to spark celebrations.

“But the biggest disappointment was how we reacted after Livi drew level. We need to show more character.”

East Stirling 1 Falkirk 7

Falkirk eased into the next round thanks to a blistering second-half blitz which stunned Shire.

Delighted boss Peter Houston praised his players for doing a professional job against their local rivals.

He said: “The big thing for us today was that we had to go about it the right way. Shire were plucky and for an hour of the match gave us some problems.

“Once we went a couple of goals ahead it became easier and obviously they got a wee bit more towards the end of the second half.

“You have to give them a bit of credit because for a long spell they were still in the game.

“I just wanted our attitude to be spot on and there were some quality finishes.”

It was Falkirk who showed their early menace.

Shire ‘keeper Connor Shaw did well to block a close-range Scott Shepherd drive for a corner, then Conor McGrandles blasted wide with the goal at his mercy.

Falkirk's Alex Cooper (right) savours his superb strike.

Shire’s David McKenna fired in a shot from the edge of the box saved by Falkirk ‘keeper Jamie McDonald.

Just before the half hour mark Falkirk took the lead when the unfortunate Shaw spilled a Tom Taiwo free kick and Will Vaulks bundled home.

Shire almost levelled when McKenna sent in a powerful header, only to be denied by McDonald.

With the break fast approaching, McDonald was again called into action with a solid stop from David Greenhill.

Four minutes into the second half Falkirk were unlucky as Rory Loy and McGrandles both hit the same left post.

Alex Cooper rifled in an unstoppable 25 yarder before Loy made it 3-0 from the penalty spot following a Connor Greene trip.

McKenna pulled one back for the Shire but it was all too late as Loy fired in his double and sub Botti Biabi made it 5-1.Fellow sub Blair Alston struck a sixth and completed his double as Shire fell apart.

Shire boss Craig Tully took it on the chin and said : “Right up to about 70 minutes we were well in the game and they scored their second against the run of play.

“We definitely tired and they wore us down and were clinical. Unfortunately that‘s the scoreline but it was never a 7-1 game.”

Elgin 0 Stirling 3

He said: “We set the team up to attack and thankfully we got the first goal and grew in confidence from there.

“It’s a great start with a clean sheet and three goals, and, to be honest, it could have been more.”

Elgin held the upper hand in the first half with Shane Sutherland missing three chances. But two minutes after the break Stirling went in front from an acrobatic Darren Smith volley.

On 57 minutes it was 2-0, Gordon Smith scoring from the spot after his namesake was fouled by Matthew Cooper, a tackle which got the defender a red card.

Gordon Smith then sealed it on 78 minutes when he bundled home his second.

Elgin boss Barry Wilson said: “As soon as the first goal went in the body language was not good enough.”

East Fife 2 Forfar 1

East Fife boss Gary Naysmith hailed his side’s fighting spirit as they held on to see off a late, spirited fightback by Forfar.

First-half headers from Jon McShane and Euan Moyes put the hosts two ahead as their new signing, Caolan McAleer, caused havoc down both wings and the visitors struggled to string passes together.

But Forfar pulled a goal back through Dale Hilson in 72 minutes with a low shot from 10 yards and that sparked off a better spell for the Station Park side.

But it was to be the Fifers’ day and Naysmith said: “This is a brilliant result for us.

“For 70 minutes we were different class and could have been four or five goals ahead if we had taken our chances.

“I feel we deserved to win it for our first-half performance but I have to admit had it gone to extra time they would have been in the driving seat.”

Cowdenbeath 1 Brechin 3

Ray McKinnon praised his Brechin battlers as they dumped Championship side Cowden in extra time.

The gaffer said: “It’s a hard place to come as they are a league above us, so we’re delighted with the victory. The boys were great. It was a tough game and we’re delighted to be through.”

Cowden struck first in 13 minutes through Sean Higgins but sub Robert Thomson levelled for City in 69 minutes to take the game into extra time.

But Brechin’s Alan Trouten and Ryan Ferguson netted to secure their side’s place in the second round.

Brora 3 Stenhousemuir 1

Zander Sutherland netted an incredible hat-trick for the Highland League champions to stun Stenhousemuir.

He gave Brora the lead just after the half hour direct from a corner.

Stenny levelled early in the second half when Martin Grehan converted from the penalty spot.

But Sutherland struck twice in extra-time to seal a deserved victory.

Arbroath 1 Alloa 4

Greig Spence netted a debut hat-trick as Alloa swept aside League Two Arbroath.

The former Celtic signing netted a treble in 29 minutes after Stephen Simmons had put the Wasps ahead.

And while Simon Murray grabbed a late consolation for Arbroath, it was too late to halt Alloa’s safe route into the next round.

Gaffer Barry Smith said: “I’m thrilled for Greig who took his goals well. But I’m a perfectionist and annoyed we lost a late goal.”

Arbroath boss Allan Moore said: “If you defend like we did, you’ll lose goals no matter who you are playing.”

Clyde 2 Ayr Utd 0

Barry Ferguson

Barry Ferguson stunned his Clyde players last night when he slated them in the dressing room – after they had pulled off a shock to dump League one Ayr.

The Bully Wee boss was thrilled with the giant-killing act but unhappy with the way his side failed to press on after going in 2-0 up at the break.

Ferguson said: “I was delighted with the first half but we can do a lot better than we did in the second.

“You wouldn’t have known who was the League One side in the first 45 minutes but I was a bit disappointed after that and had a wee blast at them at the end.

“I’m demanding and they know that. It’s going to take time but we’re moving in the right direction.”

Fergie’s boys almost took the lead inside the first two minutes when Kevin Watt curled a left-footer inches wide.

They made the breakthrough just six minutes later when Watt’s cross caught out United keeper David Hutton and striker Scott McManus stole in to poke the ball home from 12 yards.

McManus then missed an easier chance when, with Hutton in no-man’s land, he skied his shot.

United’s best opening of the half fell to Brian Gilmour but his rocket drive was superbly parried by Jamie Barclay.

Scott Ferguson had been denied a penalty when he went down following a challenge from Nicky Devlin but the full-back wasn’t so lucky in 29 minutes when he caught the winger again and Sweeney lashed home the spot-kick.